Justin Bieber is afraid of flying.

The 18-year-old pop superstar frequently jets around the world but he admits he is stricken by anxiety attacks when he boards a plane as he has no control over what happens in the air.

He said: ''I just started to really not like getting on a flight. It scares me. When I get anxiety, my heart drops and starts beating really fast as if it's going to explode.

''And when there's a weird noise, it's like, what's that weird noise? People say you have more chance of getting into a car accident than a plane crash, but they do maybe one flight a year and I'm on planes all the time. And all the time I'm thinking, 'I have no control. If this plane crashes I'm dead.'

''I feel like every time I get on a plane I'm risking my life.''

Justin - who is dating 20-year-old Selena Gomez - also admitted he doesn't view many women as being ''too old'' for him.

Admitting he finds Cheryl Cole ''really pretty'', he is asked if her being 29 years old makes her two old for him, prompting him to reply to Live magazine: ''Is that a challenge? She's not too old. Nothing is too old for me, except maybe 50 or 60.''